Best Holiday Travel Tips For People From Detroit
The holidays are fast approaching. They will be here faster than you can put away your Halloween costume. And holidays mean that it will once again be time for holiday travel. Travel always has the potential to be a stressful affair regardless of where one lives or the time of year. However, there are a few things that Detroiters can do to make holiday travel a tad less frustrating. Not all of these suggestions will work for everyone or every trip. However, everyone should find at least one tip here that makes their next trip more enjoyable.
1. Take Advantage of Your Phone
These days, there is an app for just about everything. One of the best travel-related apps is one from Ann Arbor-based Mobiata, which tracks your flight information in real time on an iPhone or Android. It will keep you updated on flight delays and any other problems so that you can plan accordingly. More details about this app are available on CBS Detroit here.
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2. Explore Other Airports
Metro airport connects Detroit with the world. However, it's not the only commercial airport that is nearby. Bishop International Airport in Flint only serves a handful of destinations. Travelers going to one of those cities, though, will enjoy the fact that this smaller airport is much less congested. The airport is serviced by Air Tran, American, Delta and United Airlines. As an added bonus, flights to and from Bishop Airport in Flint tend to be cheaper than those to and from Detroit Metropolitan Airport. It's great when something makes your life easier and costs less money.
3. Learn to Travel With Kids
Being a parent changes everything about your life and travelling is no different. Going on a long trip with young children can add layers of stress to an event that was already frustrating. Thankfully, there are several things that parents can do to make travelling with children a more enjoyable experience. CBS Detroit has more details about that here.
4. Take the Bus
This is one suggestion that certainly doesn't work for everyone or for every trip. However, for those who live downriver or in much of western Wayne County and are only carrying one or two bags with them (say those going on a shorter trip), getting to the Detroit Metro Airport can be a lot less stressful by bus than driving and dealing with airport parking. Travelers can find the SMART Bus trip planner available online here. Simply enter your starting destination and when you need to be at the airport. The system will tell you everything that you need to know from there.
5. Car Service
There is definitely something to be said for leaving the driving to a professional. While it usually costs more than long-term parking at the airport, a car service can deliver you straight to the curbside at Metro and with far fewer hassles than driving yourself. Metro Cars has uniformed drivers in sedans, SUVs and vans ready to transport you. More information about this service is available here.
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Frank Nemecek is a freelance writer. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
